Demand for cash has surged in Russia due to internet outages and rising taxes
In Russia, the share of cash payments has risen significantly amid regular internet outages and an increased tax burden. In April 2026, Russians paid for about 30% of all purchases in cash, which is 5 percentage points higher than during the same period last year.
This is evidenced by data from the “Check Index” analytical center of the OFD Platform company, which Forbes reviewed.
By the end of the first quarter of 2026, the share of cash payments had also increased—to 28% compared to 25% a year earlier.
The highest use of cash was recorded in the following sectors:
▪️ food sales;
▪️ furniture and home goods;
▪️ automotive products;
▪️ construction and renovation;
▪️ the hotel industry;
▪️ entertainment centers;
▪️ auto repair shops.
In these categories, the share of cash transactions exceeded 35%.
According to the Bank of Russia, in April, the volume of cash in the country’s economy reached 20.16 trillion rubles, increasing by 679 billion rubles, or 3.5%, over the month.
This increase was the largest since September 2023. In early May, demand for cash also remained high—in just the first half of the month, an additional 330 billion rubles in cash entered the economy through teller windows and ATMs.
In Russia’s capital, Moscow, there are massive lines at ATMs. People are withdrawing cash en masse amid fears that some Russian banks will be cut off from the SWIFT system.
